Natural Mindset Archive

One Man’s Need for a More Natural Mindset
November 3rd, 2007

A few years ago I decided to get on the environmentally friendly bandwagon and effect a more natural
mindset into my daily routine. Knowing myself as I do, I knew this wouldn’t be easy. After all, like a lot of
you, I was too busy to incorporate the vast array of eco-considerations into my life. I mean really,
recycling, household chemicals, gardening methods, lawn care, eco-friendly baby care, the type of
containers I was using on a regular basis and the list goes on. Sound familiar? It was just too
overwhelming. So I thought to myself, I give up…right? No! I decided to attack the problem with cunning
and a bit of psychology. We as humans take approx. 28 days to learn a new behavior. To learn all of the
steps to an environmentally friendly lifestyle at one time would be nearly impossible in today’s hectic
world. But to learn one would be easy. So I decided to break it down into simple, single steps that I, or
anyone for that matter, could achieve. This way, over the course of a year I could make a real dent in my
behavior and make a real contribution to our environment.

I wanted immediate success. After all, success breeds success, right? So I started ridiculously simple. I
decided that I would refuse to use paper towels with print of any kind. Now, that may not seem like much,
but if it got me going in the right direction, then it was positive movement. For the next month I would
reach for a roll of paper towels at the grocery store and immediately my mind would click in….No Print! I
would go to a friend’s home…. No Print! My mother’s home… No Print! You get the idea. I began to see the
beauty of my system. Not only had I avoided buying print paper towels, an admittedly small step toward
the environmentally friendly consciousness that I was seeking, but I had also began to reduce and reuse. I
mean really, I wasn’t going to just let that spaghetti stay on my chin. Instead I used a cloth napkin or a
wash cloth (typically made of cotton; a sustainable product…. we will get to that later). Voila! I was on my
way.

The following month I set my sights on something bigger. After all, if I could make a baby step and
succeed, maybe a larger environmentally friendly step was in my future. Maybe I could make an even
bigger positive impact on the ecosystem. So I did it. I made the ultimate sacrifice. Lets get rid of those
paper towels all together. Well, let’s not get crazy. That just might put my whole plan into a tailspin. I
mean, really. I have been using paper towels for anything and everything under the sun. So I did the next
best thing. I made a decision to use only post consumer recycled paper towels. I went to the store and as I
reached for the shelf, it would click in….. Recycled Paper Only! Oh yes, and now at my friend’s and my
mother’s, a cloth napkin is now being placed at my seat at the table.

Next…. (By the way I was on a roll), I cocked my hat, set my chin and took a deep breath. If this works on
paper towels maybe it can work on paper in general. I went to the store. By the way that store makes way
to much money off of me (again a different story). As I reached for the printer paper…. Recycled Paper
Only! Could it be that this concept was generalizing to other areas of my life as well. I had made it out of
the kitchen and into my office. It wouldn’t be long, I thought, until I was all the way into my backyard.

Then a light went on. Well, it actually went out…. literally. Wow! I don’t even have to think about this one.
If a light goes out, that’s my cue! Just replace it with an environmentally friendly bulb (be sure to recycle
those babies).

I continue to add further accomplishments toward my little piece of the eco-friendly world. Suffice it to
say that creating a more natural mindset has been a journey. You too can take an equally successful trip
down this very rewarding road. I encourage you to take a look at your lifestyle…. the little things, and start
there.

This natural mindset is one not of revolution, but of evolution. Change over time is much more
sustainable than abrupt definitive acts that overwhelm our psyche. You can look at any fad diet trend for
evidence of that. Give yourself a pat on the back for the small but significant changes you accomplish on
your road to a more environmentally friendly world. Pat yourself on the back also at the times when you
fail, backslide or just plain forget to act on your plan. The fact that you have realized your error tells us
that you are thinking correctly…actions will follow.

Little changes that we make in our lives can make big global difference. In this spot I hope to share tips,
resources, products and everyday advice for everyday people who want a more healthy lifestyle and a
more healthy planet. Let’s take this journey together, and move together toward a more natural mindset.